Truck bolster interlocking device



June 14, 1949. R. B. CQTTRELL 2,473,012

TRUCK BOLSTER/ INTERLOCKING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 l f l 1 n 1 12 24 311i 3o; Q41

IN VEN TOR.

June 14, 1949. R. B. co'rTRELL 2,473,012

TRUCK BOLSTER INTERLOCKING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1944 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN'I/Elvrog.

Patented June 14, 1949 TRUCK BoLs'rER INTERLOCKING DEVICE Robert B. Cottrell, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 9, 1944, Serial No. 548,642

6 Claims. 1

My invention relates to railway car trucks.

The general object of my invention is to design novel means for interlocking the truck bolster with the columns of a truss type side frame.

A specic object of my invention is to provide a novel unit comprising a pair of interlocking pieces recessed in the bottom wall of the bolster and having bearing portions for cooperation with the outboard edges of the columns, said unit aifording a spring seat lcoplanar with the bottom oi the bolster for abutment with the associated springs of the bolster supporting spring group.

More specifically, the interlocking unit comprises two members with bearing portions for cooperation with the respective columns, said members including novel positioning means received within a single opening in the bottom Wall of the bolster. By means of this arrangement, either of said interlocking members may be replaced independently of the other where service conditions are such that relatively severe Wear occurs between one of the columns and its associated interlocking member.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a railway car truck embodying my invention, and Figure 2 is a fragmentary top view of the structure shown in Figure 1 with the side frame illustrated in section through the columns thereof.

Figure 3 is a side view of the bolster and interlocking unit shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 4 to 6 inclusive, illustrate in detail one of the novel interlocking members constituting the unit shown in the preceding figures, Figure 4 being a side elevation, Figure 5 being an end view taken from the left as seen in Figure 4, and Figure 6 being a top plan view.

Describing my invention in detail and referring to the drawings, the truck side frame comprises compression and tension members 2 and 4 and spaced columns 6, 6 defining therewith window openings 8, 8 and a central bolster opening lll.

Seated on the tension member 4 within the bolster opening lil are a plurality of bolster supporting springs diagrammatically indicated at I2, l2. The bolster, generally designated I4, is a boxlike structure with a pocket I6 in each side thereof for the reception of an associated friction device shown and described in detail in United States Patent No. 2,378,414, issued June 19, 1945, in the name of David M. Light for Car truck. This friction device is no part of the present invention and accordingly will not be described herein.

The bottom wall of the bolster is provided out- (Cl. 10S-197) boardly of the columns with a transverse groove or recess I8 merging at each end thereof with a substantially vertical groove or recess 2i) in one side of the bolster, said recesses I8 and 2t) being formed and arranged for the accommodation of an interlocking unit generally designated 22 (Figures 1 and 2).

The interlocking unit comprises a pair of identical members 24, 24, each comprising a flat body portion 26 received within the groove i3 and having at one end thereof an upstanding gib or bearing portion 28 received within the recess 2t and adapted for cooperation with the outboard edge of the adjacent column t to limit relative inboard movement of the bolster with respect to the side frame. At its opposite end, the interlocking member 24 comprises a relatively narrow upstanding lug 3i) with an opening 32 therethrough for the reception of an associated key or cotter pin (not shown), and it will be clearly understood from a consideration of Figures 1 and 2 that the lugs 3D, 30 project upwardly lthrough an opening 34 in the bottom wall of the bolster for positioning the interlocking unit 22 with respect thereto.

The lugs 3U, 30 are disposed in alignment transversely of the frame in such manner that one of the lugs 30 is inboardly of the other lug 33 and the openings 32, 32 through the respective lugs are in alignment for the reception of the before-mentioned key or cotter pin (not shown), said key functioning to interlock the members 24, 24 with each other and with the bottom wall of the bolster to limit upward relative movement 'thereof with respect to the unit 22. It will be understood that by means of the particular arrangement illustrated with the lugs 3l), 3c in alignment transversely of the frame, relatively small shearing stresses will be placed upon any securing means which is utilized in the openings 32, 32, and likewise, each interlocking member 24 is afforded a relatively long lever arm for resisting out-ofsquare movements of the bolster with respect to the side frame. Thus, by means of the arrangement above described, breaking of the members 24, 24 and their keying means is substantially prevented.

The bolster is provided at each side thereof with an inboard gib. or lug 36 cooperating with the inboard side of the adjacent column 6 for limiting relative outboard movement of the bolster with respect to the side frame,and it will thus be apparent that by means of the gibs 36, 36 and the interlocking unit 22, the side frames and bolster are interlocked against substantial inboard and outboard movement while, at the same time, the bolster is permitted to oscillate vertically on the springs l2, l2.

It will be understood by a comparison of Figures 2 and 3 that each member 24 of the interlocking unit 22 affords a seat at 3S substantially coplanar `with the seat 4!) on the bottom wall of the bolster, said seats 38 and 4D bearing against the upper end of one of the springs l2, whereby the interlocking member 24 is maintained in assembled relationship within the groove it in the bottom wall of the bolster, the lug 3@ on said member maintaining the bearing portion 23 thereof within the bolster groove 2B. .By' means of this novel arrangement, the interlocking unit 22 is conveniently maintained in assembled relationship with the bolster in such manner that the boister may be readily disconnected from the unit in the event that it is desirable to replace one or both ofthe members 24, 24 because of wear in service.

In assembling my novel truck, the bolster is entered at the bottom of the bolster opening l and is elevated therein until sufficient clearance is provided to permit the seating of the springs i2, I2 upon the tension member 4. Thereafter, the interlocking unit 22 is assembled with the bolster and is lowered therewith onto the springs l2, I2. In 'the event that it is desired to replace one or both of the members 24, 24, or Whenever it 'is desired to remove the bolster from the bolster opening, the bolster may be elevated therein until the outboard springs l2, I2 can be removed, thus permitting removal of the interlocking unit 22 or either ofthe members 24 thereof.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to 'be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, `be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing vfrom `the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway car truck, a side frame with spaced columns, a bolsterY movably 'supported ,from said frame between said columns, and means interlocking said frame and said bolster comprising surfaces `movable with said `bolster and bearing against the Vinboard edges vof said columns and a pair of separable members removably interlocked with said bolster and slidably engaged with the outboard edges of said columns, said members having at their adjacent ends lugs overlapping transversely of said frame and projecting upwardly through a common opening in the bottom Wall of said bolster, and aligned openings through said lugs extending transversely of said frame and adapted for the reception of associated key means.

2. In arailway car truck, a side frame havinga bolster opening, a spring group on said frame in said opening, a bolster extending through said opening and supported from said group, and means interlocking said frame-and bolster against relative inboard and outboard movement comprising integral stop means on said bolster en gageable ywith one side of said frame and a ,pair of removable insert members recessed in a horizontal wall of said bolster and each comprising a bearing portion lformed and arranged for slidable .cooperation withthe opposite side of said frame, a pair of abutting positioning lugs on'respective members projecting vertically through a comple- .mentary opening in said bolster wall, one of said positioning lugs being disposed `inboardly of the .4 other, and openings through said positioning lugs aligned longitudinally of said bolster and adapted for reception of associated means for keying said members to each other and to said bolster.

3. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening, a bolster extending through said `openingandmovably supported from said frame,

,and means interlocking .said bolster and frame comprising stops on said bolster bearing against one side of said frame, and a pair of separable elements removably interlocked with said bolster and slidably engaged with the opposite side of said frame, said elements having their adjacent extremities Loverlapping transversely of said frame and ,comprising lugs projecting through a complementary vertical opening in a wall of said .bolster, and aligned openings through said lugs extending transversely of said frame and adapted for reception of associated key means.

4. In a railway car truck, a side frame with spaced columns, a'bolster spring-supportedfrom said'framebetween said columns, and means interlocking said frame and said bolster comprising surfaces on said bolster bearing against the inboard edges of said columns, and a Vpair of separable members removably interlocked with said bolster and slidably engaged `with the outboard-edges of said-columns, said members having their adjacent extremities overlapping transversely of saidirame and-comprising lugs extendingthrough the bottom wall or" said bolster, and aligned openings through said lugs extending transversely of said frame and adapted for the reception of associated means for keying said members to each other and to said bolster.

5. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns, a bolster resiliently supported -by said frame between vsaid columns, and means for interlocking said frame and said bolster comprising a pair of members slidably engaged with the outboard sides of respective columns, said members having portions overlapping transversely of said frame and projecting through a common opening in a wall of said bolster, '.and 'aligned yopenings Athrough said portions lextending `transversely of said frame and adapted for the reception oi associated key means.

`6. Inra railway car truck, aside frame having spaced columns, a bolster resiliently supported from said framebetween said columns, a pair of removable inserts recessed in the bottom of said bolster and having bearing portions cooperating with the outboard edges of respective columns, anda pair of upstanding positioning lugs on respective inserts projecting upwardly through an opening in said vbolster complementary to said lugs, said opening being disposed approximately `midway intermediate the sides of said bolster, and aligned openings through said lugs extending transversely of said frame and adapted for the reception .of associated key means.

ROBERT B. COTTREIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le o'f this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number AName Date 1,629,476 Bush May 24, 1927 12703,'058 Bush Feb. 19, 1929 1,952,378 Larsen Mar. 27, 1934 1,978,637 Knipe Oct. 30, 1934 

